Bangalore, August 2, 2007: Organon, the human healthcare business unit of Akzo Nobel, has received an approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to market its rocuronium bromide, a neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) for use during general anesthesia, The drug will be sold under the brand name of Eslax. This drug has a fast onset of action and is one of the most widely used muscle relaxants in the United States, Canada and many European countries.

 

Rocuronium bromide was first introduced in the USA in 1994, and quickly became one of the most commonly used muscle relaxants in many countries. It has a proven safety profile and has been used in over 140 million patients, including an estimated 20 million patients in 2006.

 

Nippon Organon, Organon’s Japanese affiliate, is preparing to introduce the drug in the course of this year. This will be Organon’s next move in a long line for the Japanese anesthesia market following on the introduction of Mioblock (pancuronium bromide), Musculax (vecuronium bromide) and TOF-Watch.

 

Professor Takeda, Department of Anesthesiology, Keio University, Japan said, “The introduction of this drug will undoubtedly contribute to greater patient safety during surgery in Japan. This agent’s rapid onset of action allows almost all patients to be intubated within approximately one minute of its administration. Japanese anesthesiologists will certainly welcome this important new drug to their armamentarium as it will provide rapid and reliable neuromuscular relaxation.”

 

“We work to be a well respected partner for the anesthesiology professionals in Japan and I am pleased we will bring them a new drug that has already earned a strong position around the rest of the world,” said Willem de Laat, Executive Vice President Medical Affairs, Organon, “In our commitment to the anesthesia field we will continue to work in close partnership with the Japanese anesthesiology professionals to develop innovative and safe solutions that assist them in caring for their patients.”